Share this with

Despite a year that includes The Joker, Star Wars Episode 9 and The Lion King remake, there are few films with as much hype surrounding it as the fourth Avengers film. At the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos sits in peaceful triumph having ‘perfectly balanced’ the universe with The Infinity Gauntlet. The internet has been ablaze with fan theories, set leaks and speculation as to how next year’s film will conclude the story. Here’s our roundup of facts, figures, and rumours.

Release date and title…

… or lack thereof. Despite the film being released 3 May 2019 (about seven months away), the follow up to Infinity War still has no title, with the directors being tight-lipped other than to say it is not Infinity War: Part 2, and that the title of this new film was never spoken during Infinity War (seemingly quashing rumours that it might be ‘Endgame’).

Advertisement

Advertisement

According to IMDB, many countries will be getting the film a few days earlier than the US, with the UK seeing it a whole week earlier on 26 April.

The war continues (Picture: Marvel Studios 2018)

There might be time travel

Many leaked set photos have shown cast members with costumes from previous films, while Chris Hemsworth is shown with his original long blonde locks, and Chris Evans’ Captain America is without the fetching beard he sported in Infinity War. This, plus the presence of mysterious devices on the wrists of Robert Downey Jr and others, suggests some kind of time travel narrative at play as the team try to undo Thanos’ work.

Ant-Man and Captain Marvel may have key roles to play

Another factor supporting the time travel theory is that Scott Laing/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) was stuck in the Quantum Realm at the end of the credits scene of Ant-Man and The Wasp. It makes sense that Ant-Man, who played no part in Infinity War, may be the catalyst to start the rescue mission. Equally, Captain Marvel was called upon by Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) just prior to his disintegration during the credits scene of Infinity War. It’s likely we’ll know more when Brie Larson makes her debut in the role next March, but such a powerful ally would surely take centre stage in the next film and beyond.

Spider-man, The Wasp and The Guardians are probably going to be okay

This one just comes down to logic, and Marvel’s love of planning ahead. Despite his dramatic departure at the end of Infinity War, the fact that Spider-man: Far From Home comes out a couple of months after Avengers 4 suggests Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is probably going to be saved, as will the disintegrated members of The Guardians of The Galaxy if the third film goes ahead (well, it can’t just be Rocket on his own, can it?). The fact that Evangeline Lilly also confirmed that The Wasp will be in Avengers 4 suggests her mid-credits disintegration in Ant-Man and The Wasp won’t be the last we see of her.

Advertisement

Advertisement

… But will Loki??

Despite being very, very dead after one of Infinity War’s most shocking scenes, there has been speculation that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki could be coming back after Cate Blanchett was reported to be in the area where Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson were seen filming last May. Fans believe this may be a clue that a grief-stricken Thor could bring back Blanchett’s Hela following her defeat in Thor: Ragnarok, in order to resurrect his fallen brother.

Jeremy Renner is back as Hawkeye (or is that Ronin?)

Another noticeable absentee from Infinity War was Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, but set pictures and the actor’s own instagram (where he used the hashtag #Hawkeye) confirm the actor will be back and joining his friends. Blurry concept art has also led fans to question whether the actor with turn from Hawkeye to Ronin, a darker persona prompted by personal loss in the comic books.

There’s no sign of the X-Men or Fantastic Four – yet

Disney’s impending purchase of Fox makes The Fantastic Four and X-Men characters usable in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time. While that’s a tantalising idea for fans, the packed cast may mean there isn’t space to introduce the new faces in a meaningful way. Then again, The Russo Brothers have expressed an interest in using the Fox-owned characters, telling website Internaute ‘We’ll say that if that Fox deal goes through with Disney there’s a lot more characters to work with all of a sudden. It would be interesting to do something like Secret Wars’ (referring to a famous comic book storyline from the 80’s). Perhaps that interest will turn into the next adventure for the MCU!

Advertisement

We might be saying goodbye to one of the ‘big four’

While many of the characters who turned to dust in Infinity War may well come back, it would be something of a cop out if everyone lived happily ever after. Many fans believe that one or more of the original four Avengers – Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America – may give their own life to save others. Given none of these characters have films scheduled, anyone is possible, although after eleven years and ten appearances, Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark may be the one to sacrifice himself. Elsewhere, Chris Evans commented in a New York Times piece that he may be done with Marvel after the fourth Avengers, remarking that ‘you want to get off the train before they push you off’. The characters who have always been at odds coming together to save the world would be a fitting end for both actors, give the two-part story a lasting impact, and make room for a new generation.

It will cost a LOT.

No official budget has been put forward for the film, but with so many characters, effects and elaborate sets it’s safe to say it isn’t going to be cheap. One online article suggested that this film and Infinity War will cost a combined $1billion (£760million). However you split it, if true that makes them two of the most expensive films ever made.

Advertisement

‘Tony, there was no other way’

Finally, one ray of hope to those left heartbroken by the end of the movie is Doctor Strange’s final line. Many believe it is a reference to an earlier scene where Strange sees 14,000,605 outcomes to their fight against Thanos – with only one outcome where they defeat him. His saying that there was ‘no other way’ suggests that this was that one plan, and that in order to win there must first be some losses.